Ice-cream-can shipping case



1929- G. F. LESSENHOP ET AL 1,732,099

ICE CREAM CAN SHIPPING CASE Filed Oct. 7, 1926 gwventom, Georye 71'.Le$6e27};o 019577 A. Lamenfio of Car? 14 Lessenbop J 7 41!? WLasxsevZ 07$ Patented Get. 15, 1929 warren STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE F. LESSENHOP, JOHN H. LESSENHOP, CARL W. LESSENI-IOP, AND PAUL W. LESSENHOP, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA ICE-CREAM-CAN SHIPPING CASE Application filed October 7, 1926. Serial No. 140,061.

This invention relates to shipping containers, particularly those of the heat insulated type, and has for its general object the provision of a novel container within which a can of ice cream or the like may be shipped,'

the construction and arrangement being such that adequate heat insulating means is provided for maintaining the commodity at a substantially uniform temperature so that melting will be prevented.

It is well known that it is a common prac tice to ship cans of ice cream long distances, particularly in some sections of the country, and it therefore becomes necessary to provide some means whereby the containers will be protected from sunshine or warm air to avoid softening of the contents, it being of course obvious that softening or melting would render the commodity unmarketable. It is not practicable to pack the cans in tubs of ice owing to the fact that the ice itself would probably melt long before the can reaches its destination. Furthermore the cost of such packing is high and the handling of tubs and the like extremely inconvenient. It has therefore become a common practice to make use of jackets or cases within which the cans of ice cream are placed, the jackets embodying heat insulating material of some type or other which will act to prevent temperature changes on the interior and consequently preserve the ice cream against deterioration. While it has been proposed to make cases or jackets capable of being opened at the side or at the bottom, it has been found preferable to have a removable top which is strapped or otherwise fastened down after the can of ice cream has been placed in position. However, the great est difiiculty has been to provide an absolutely tight joint between the cap or cover and the body of the case or jacket so as to insure eX- clusion of warm air. Such cases, with the cans therein, are some times handled more or less roughly and it is conceivable that they may be struck in such manner as to loosen a portion of the edge of the cap or cover, causing a crack or space to develop between the edge of the case and the cover. In such an event it is clear that the protective effect of the case or jacket is materially decreased so that the ice cream may not reach its destination in a salable condition.

It is with the above facts in view that we have designed the present invention which has for an important object the provision of a container, jacket or case provided with a cap or cover of novel or improved construction stuffed or padded with heat insulating material and adapted to be compressingly engaged within the case or jacket and against the can therein and to be drawn down with respect to the case so that the edge of the padded or stuffed portion will extend over and beyond the open edge or end of the case 01' acket for the purpose of positively closing or sealing the open end and insuring the exclusion of warm air even under the most adverse conditions.

more specific object of the invention is the provision of a cap or cover embodying a tapered plug-like portion adapted to telescope within the open end of the case or jacket so that when the cover is drawn down and secured the tapered nature of this plug-like portion will insure a tight fit within the open end of the can for effecting sealing against passage of air, the tapered nature of the plug portion making the action effective even though the case or jacket may be distorted to a greater or less extent as the result of hard wear or other circumstances.

A further object is to provide a cap or cover of this character having a padded or stuffed portion which laps over the edge of the case or jacket at the open end thereof to make the air seal more effective and to reduce likeli hood of loosening of the cap with respect to the body of the device regardless of how roughly the entire device may be treated.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a cap or cover of this type which may be formed of any desired or necessary number of sections secured together in any preferred manner and containing heat insulating padding of any suitable type, the padding being the same throughout all portions or certain portions or sections being stuifed with or containing heat insulating materials of different characters, depending upon the contemplated cost of production, the

n." An) preference of the manufacturer and other unforeseen conditions which may arise in practice.

An additional object is the provision of a cap or cover of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, easy to apply and secure, positive in action, efficient and durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention preferably consists in the arrangement and combination of parts and detailed structural features to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of an ice cream can shipping case show ing the improved cover or cap therefor in initially applied position prior to securing.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the cover or cap drawn down tightly into final position, only a portion of the cover being in section and the securing means being disclosed.

Referring more particularly to the drawing the numeral 10 designates an ice cream can shipping case or jacket which is preferably cylindrical in shape to conform to an ice cream can A of conventional pattern or design. In so far as the present invention is concerned it is easily conceivable that the specific construction of this case or jacket might be varied within wide. limits. However, it is very convenient that it be constructed in the manner disclosed in the copending application of George F. Lessenhop, filed April 23rd, 1926, Serial No. 104.,O1. As particularly set forth in said co-pending application and as disclosed herein, this caseor jacket comprises a bottom 11 and a double walled cylindrical body suitably attached thereto, the body including outer and inner walls 12 and 13 respectively between which is a suitable packing of heat insulating material indicatedat 14. The top of the case is open and the upper edge is preferably beaded and reinforced as indicated at 15. These details are given only for the sake of illustration for the reason that, as mentioned above, the specific form of the case itself is capable of modification inasmuch as the present invention relates to the means for closing the open top.

In carrying out the present invention we provide a cover or closure cap designated genorally by the numeral 16, this cap being preferably permanently attached to the body of the case as by means of one or more flexible strips 17 which act as hinges and which permit the cover to be moved readily from open to closed position, or vice versa. The cover is hereshown as comprising a plurality of sections indicated generally at 18 and 19, two being shown in the present instance though it should be understood that any number necessary or preferred may be provided in accordance with whatever developments may arise in actual practice. The section 18 is shown as comprising a circular disk or piece of material 20 to the marginal portion of which is stitched or otherwise secured a circular band 21 to the lower edge of which is, in turn, secured the upwardly flaring margi-' nal portion 22 of a circular disk or piece 23 which constitutes the bottom for the section 18. The section 19 is represented as including a circular band 24 suitably attached to the disk member 23 preferably at the juncture of the flaring marginal portion 22 with the major port-ion thereof, the lower edge of the band 2 1 being sewed or otherwise attached to a disk of circular form indicated at 25.

WVhile circular disks and circular bands have been described and shown it should be understood that the purpose in providing the same is simply to shape the sections 18 and 19, these sections being of course filled or stuffed with heat insulating material 26 which may be soft in its nature, as for instance hair or its equivalent. The packing need not be the same throughout as it is within the scope of the invention to use combinations of packings having different characteristics, if such is found advisable for any reason foreseen or unforeseen.

The result of forming the device in the manner set forth is to obtain a cover, or closure cap having a lower portion adapted to telescope within the case or jacket 10 and to engage upon the top of the can cover 13, together with an upper portion having a tapered lower surface which will seat upon and against the upper edge of the case or jacket andbe capable of being drawn over andbeyond the upper edge so as to be disposed against the terior of the case, as shown in Figure 2.

While it is conceivable that different means might be provided for drawing down the cap into sealing position, we have found it convenient to provide an apron, or skirt 2? suitably. attached to the closure cap, pref: erably at the marginal edge of the top disk or circular piece 20 or at its juncture with the band 21, there being, however, no limitation as to the point or line of connection. This skirt is adapted to telescope onto the or jacket so that when secured, bymcans to be described, pressure will be applied to the entire periphery of the cover or closure cap for holding it in compressing engagement with the edge of the case and also in compressing engagement with the cover B of the can A. When the cap is thus drawn down the compressing engagement of the lower section 19 with the can cover will operate toexpand the section 19 laterally or squash it into close and firm engagementwith the inner wall of the case. The close engagement of the band. 24 with the inner periphery of the case, combined with the close, compressing engage ment of the tapered section 22 with the edge of the case, together with the overlapping of the padded top section onto the exterior of the case will form a positive seal for excluding warm air or for preventing passage of air between the case and the cap.

As disclosed in the above mentioned copending application, and as illustrated herein, the means for securing the cap in place may conveniently consist of eyelets 28 in the overlapping portions 29 of the skirt, through which eyelets may be passed a rope or any other flexible securing member 80 adapted to be passed through an anchor loop or the like 81 on the side of the jacket so that by draving the flexible member taut and tying or otherwise fastening it the skirt will be held snugly in encircling relation to the case with the cap held closely in the position described upon the open end thereof.

In actual practice it has been discovered that with the use of a cap constructed in this manner and applied to a shipping case as described ice cream may be not only shipped long distances without danger of melting or softening but that it may actually be left standing for a long period of time in sunshine or in any place where it is exposed to considerable heat, without any material change in temperature in the contents, the device consequently recommending itself for use in those sections of the country or in that particular branch of the industry where protection against heat is necessary.

lVhile the drawing shows and the specification describes the cap as formed of certain specific parts which are preferably sewed together along certain lines or in accordance with a predetermined plan, it should be un derstood that the number of sections or pieces of material needed may be varied in accordance with the demands of economy in manufacturing, the only essential feature being the provision of a closure cap capable of performing the desired functions, this qualification being dependent, naturally, upon the general design, shape and cooperation of the parts rather than on immaterial details which relate only to manufacturing practice. As a matter of fact we reserve the right to make all such changes in the details, the number and arrangement of parts and other minor features as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, We claim:

1. In combination with a can shipping case having an open top, and with a can therein, means for closing the open top comprising a cap detachably mounted and including por- V tions telescopically engageable respectively interiorly and exteriorly of the case, the interiorly telescoping portion being in compressing engagement with the cam and expanded laterally into close engagement with the interior of the case.

2. In an ice cream can shipping case, a body member having one end closed and its other end open, a cap for closing said open end comprising a padded portion adapted to fit telescopically within the open end and further including a padded portion adapted to extend over and beyond the open edge to embracingly engage upon the exterior of the case, a flexible member secured to the cap outwardly of the second named portion thereof and embracingly engaging the case, and means connected with said flexible member for securing the same with the cap under compression.

3. A closure cap for a heat insulating shipping case having an open top, comprising a cap formed of a plurality of sections filled with heat insulating material, one section telescoping within the case in compressing engagement with the wall thereof and with the contents and the other being adapted to extend over and beyond the edge of the open end and to embrace the exterior thereof.

4:. A closure cap for a heat insulating shipping case having an open top, comprising a cap formed of a plurality of sections filled with heat insulating material, one section telescoping within the case and adapted to compressingly engage the contents and be expanded laterally thereby and the other being adapted to extend over and beyond the edge of the open end and to embrace the exterior thereof, the juncture of said section of the cap having a tapered contour to act as a plug for sealing and tending to expand the open end.

5. Closure means for the open end of a heat insulating shipping container comprising a cap including a plurality of permanently connected sections of flexible material each having a filling of heat insulating material, one section being adapted to telescope within the case in engagement with the con tents thereof and another section being adapted to extend over and beyond the edge of the open end to telescope upon the exterior of the case, a split skirt secured to the second named section and embracingly engaging upon the exterior of the case, the skirt having lapping ends, and means connected with the skirt and the case for securing the cap with the sections thereof in compressing engagement with the case and the contents thereof, and contracting the skirt about the case.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures. I CARL W. LESSENHOP. GEORGE F. LESSEN HOP. JOHN H. LESSENHOP. PAUL W. LESSENHOP. 

